Thomas Schumacher elected as chairman of Broadway League

Thomas Schumacher, newly elected Chairman of the Board of The Broadway League. (Photo: Courtesy of The Broadway League)

Thomas Schumacher, president of Disney Theatrical, was announced Tuesday as the new chairman of the board of the Broadway League.

Schumacher, also a producer at Disney Theatrical, takes over from Robert E. Wankel, president of The Shubert Organization, who has served for three years.

“With extensive experience as a theatre producer, theatre operator and road presenter, Tom understands the needs of the industry from many different perspectives. He has an undeniable passion for the arts and for theatre. His creativity and love of entertainment are evenly matched with his business sense,” said Charlotte. St. Martin, President of the Broadway League.

Beyond his theatrical work with Disney, Schumacher also worked as executive producer on the live-action film “Beauty and the Beast.”

He was president of Walt Disney Feature Animation, where he oversaw 21 films including “The Lion King,” “Pocahontas” and “Hercules.”

He is on the executive committee of Broadway Cares, a longtime board member of The Actors Fund and serves as an adjunct professor at Columbia University.

Schumacher is stepping up as chairman as 16 new productions have opened so far in the 2017 – 2018 season, running alongside 20 long-running shows. In the spring, 14 more shows are scheduled to open with more expected to come.